2021 GRIP · Project

Next-Generation Aircraft Control Grips With Fewer Wires and Smarter Sensors

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Imagine the control stick a pilot uses to fly a plane — it's packed with buttons, switches, and sensors, all connected by dozens of wires. Crouzet, a French company with 50 years of experience making these grips, set out to build a smarter version. They developed low-power buttons, visual indicators, and a built-in data hub that drastically cuts the number of wires needed, saving weight and cockpit space. The result is a complete left-and-right grip set with force sensors, tested and ready for aviation certification.

By the numbers

50+ years

Crouzet experience in aircraft grip manufacturing

EUR 500,000

EU contribution to development

1 shipset

Complete airplane grip set (left/right) with force sensors demonstrated

1 partner

Single-company consortium (100% industry)

Total project deliverables

The business problem

What needed solving

Aircraft cockpit control grips are complex assemblies packed with buttons, switches, and sensors, each connected by individual wires that add weight, consume space, and complicate system integration. As aircraft become more advanced and weight-sensitive, manufacturers need smarter grips that deliver more functionality with fewer physical connections. Current grip designs also lack integrated data concentration, forcing system integrators to manage excessive wiring between the grip and the flight computer.

The solution

What was built

The project delivered a throttle grip demonstrator and a complete shipset (left and right grips) for an airplane with characterized force sensors. These grips integrate low-power buttons, visual indicators, hands-on/hands-off detection, and an information concentrator that reduces wiring between grip and flight calculator.

Audience

Who needs this

Aircraft cockpit system integrators (e.g., SAFRAN-type companies)Airframe manufacturers designing next-generation cockpitsMilitary aviation upgrade and modernization contractorseVTOL and urban air mobility vehicle developersAerospace tier-1 suppliers of flight control components

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Aerospace OEMs & System Integrators

enterprise

Target: Aircraft cockpit system integrators and tier-1 avionics suppliers

If you are a cockpit systems integrator dealing with cable complexity and weight penalties in flight controls — this project developed a complete shipset of pilot grips with an integrated information concentrator that reduces the number of wires between grip and flight computer. The demonstrator includes force sensors and low-power buttons ready for certification, directly cutting integration time and aircraft weight.

Defense & Military Aviation

enterprise

Target: Military aircraft modernization contractors and defense electronics firms

If you are a defense contractor upgrading legacy cockpit controls in military platforms — this project built throttle grips with hands-on/hands-off detection and visual indicators that consolidate data over fewer wires. With a 50-year pedigree in aircraft grip manufacturing and French-based production facilities, this offers a certification-ready upgrade path for aging control interfaces.

Advanced Air Mobility & eVTOL

mid-size

Target: Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle manufacturers

If you are an eVTOL manufacturer where every gram counts and cockpit space is minimal — this project developed low-power switches and an information concentrator that optimizes space and weight by reducing wiring between the grip and flight calculator. The grip set was designed for volume manufacturing in France, making it available as a ready-to-integrate component.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to integrate these grips into our aircraft program?

The project received EUR 500,000 in EU funding to develop and validate the technology. Pricing for commercial units would depend on volume and customization. Contact the manufacturer Crouzet Automatismes directly for production quotes — they have industrial facilities in France set up for volume manufacturing.

Can this be manufactured at industrial scale?

Yes. Crouzet explicitly states they have industrial facilities in France capable of volume manufacturing. The project was designed from the start to produce grips that could be widely sold to system integrators and aircraft manufacturers, not just lab prototypes.

What about intellectual property and licensing?

Crouzet Automatismes is the sole consortium partner and developed all technology in-house. As a private company with 50 years of grip manufacturing expertise, they likely retain full IP rights. Any licensing or supply arrangement would be negotiated directly with Crouzet.

Is this certified for flight use?

The project produced a shipset of grips (left and right) described as ready for certification. The objective also mentioned the possibility of a fly demonstrator depending on evaluation conclusions. Based on available project data, final aviation certification status should be confirmed with Crouzet.

What specific technical improvements does this offer over current grips?

The key improvements are low-power buttons and switches, integrated visual indicators, hands-on/hands-off detection, and an information concentrator that reduces the number of wires between grip and flight calculator. This means less weight, less space consumed, and simpler system integration.

How long did development take and is the project complete?

The project ran from April 2019 to July 2022 and is now closed. Development took approximately 3 years and produced working demonstrators including a throttle grip and a complete shipset with characterized force sensors.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a single-company project run entirely by Crouzet Automatismes, a French private industrial company with over 50 years in aircraft grip manufacturing. The 100% industry consortium with zero academic partners signals this is a product development effort, not basic research. Crouzet worked under the Clean Sky 2 program with SAFRAN as the topic leader and system integrator, meaning the technology was developed to meet real aircraft manufacturer specifications. The fact that one established manufacturer ran this with EUR 500,000 in EU support — and already has volume production facilities in France — makes this one of the more commercially actionable projects in the aerospace controls space.

How to reach the team

Crouzet Automatismes is a well-known French aerospace components manufacturer — their commercial team can be reached through crouzet.com

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Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the Crouzet team behind these next-generation aircraft grips? SciTransfer can arrange a direct conversation about integration, licensing, or supply agreements.

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